Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology Latest 4 Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 02:38:18 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Cave-dwelling fauna of Costa Rica: current state of knowledge and future research perspectives https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/113219/ Subterranean Biology 47: 29-62

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.47.113219

Authors: Stanimira Deleva, Andres Ulloa, Hernani F. M. Oliveira, Nikolay Simov, Ferdinando Didonna, Gloriana Chaverri

Abstract: This study focused on the cave fauna of Costa Rica, which has remained relatively understudied despite the presence of more than 435 recorded natural caves and artificial subterranean sites. We collected and reviewed all available literature data on cave fauna in Costa Rica and created the first comprehensive review of the existing information. In addition, we report new records from field surveys conducted between 2015 and 2018. This study reported approximately 123 animal species, whereas the remaining records (n = 82) represented taxa that could not be identified at the species level. Data were collected from 127 locations throughout the country, with new cave fauna records from 41 sites. Notably, we reported the first occurrence of the true bug Amnestus subferrugineus (Westwood 1837) within Costa Rican caves, which represents an addition to the country’s faunal inventory. As this study highlights the knowledge gaps in the subterranean fauna, it will serve as an important stepping stone for future research and conservation efforts related to caves in Costa Rica.

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Research Article Fri, 8 Dec 2023 14:41:19 +0200
Sinkhole and brackish water nereidid polychaetes: Revision of Stenoninereis Wesenberg-Lund, 1958 (Annelida) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/36273/ Subterranean Biology 30: 95-115

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.30.36273

Authors: Víctor Manuel Conde-Vela

Abstract: Stenoninereis species are nereidids with a small body (ca. 35 chaetigers), dorsal cirri with conspicuous cirrophores and cirrostyles, bare pharynx, and lack of neuropodial ventral ligules throughout the body. Currently, there are two valid species, S. martini Wesenberg-Lund, 1958 from the Lesser Antilles and S. tecolutlensis de León-González & Solís-Weiss, 1997 from Eastern Mexico. Nicon lackeyi Hartman, 1958 has been regarded as a junior synonym of S. martini. The examination of type and topotype specimens indicated that N. lackeyi is a distinct species and both species are redescribed, S. martini is restricted to the Caribbean islands, and N. lackeyi is reinstated and transferred to Stenoninereis. Further, Puerto Rican specimens differ from these known species and a new species, S. elisae is also described, featured mainly by large cirrophores and short cirrostyles in anterior and middle chaetigers. Further discussions about their morphology and phylogenetic affinities and a key to identify all known Stenoninereis species are also included.

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Research Article Fri, 5 Jul 2019 10:08:32 +0300
Two caves in western Honduras are important for bat conservation: first checklist of bats in Santa Bárbara https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/35420/ Subterranean Biology 30: 41-55

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.30.35420

Authors: Manfredo Alejandro Turcios-Casco, Diego Iván Ordoñez Mazier, José Alejandro Soler Orellana, Hefer Daniel Ávila-Palma, Eduardo Javier Ordoñez Trejo

Abstract: Caves are important reservoirs for species, including bats, but in Honduras there is little known information about these biodiverse ecosystems. We describe the importance of two caves in Ceguaca in western Honduras, based on the species richness of each cave. From December 2015 to May 2016, we used three mist-nets in seven journeys (74.27 mist-net/hours). We captured 139 bats belonging to 23 species of four families. We recorded 10 species in the crop of Quita Sueño, 10 in the cave of El Peñón, and 12 in the cave of Monte Grueso. In overall, 17% of the bats were captured in the crops of Quita Sueño, 62% in the cave of Monte Grueso, and 21% in the cave of El Peñón. About 9% of bat species of the total account for Honduras could be found in the cave of El Peñón, and 10% in the cave of Monte Grueso. If we consider the number of the species that have been recorded since 1979, between 20.9 and 49.2% of the expected species are still unrecorded, this suggests that despite low sampling effort there is a high diversity. However, the diversity of bats species using these caves embraced on the Tropical Dry Forest of Ceguaca is threatened by the fragmentation of the ecosystem due to the following reasons: intentional fires in the caves, extensive cattle raising, replacement of native plants with extensions of crops, and human-vampire conflicts (Desmodus rotundus).

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Research Article Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:31:39 +0300
A new genus for Cirolana troglexuma Botosaneanu & Iliffe, 1997, an anchialine cave dwelling cirolanid isopod (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from the Bahamas https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/11181/ Subterranean Biology 21: 57-92

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.21.11181

Authors: Niel L. Bruce, Saskia Brix, Nicholas Balfour, Terue C. Kihara, Alexander M. Weigand, Sevag Mehterian, Thomas M. Iliffe

Abstract: Cirolana troglexuma Botosaneanu & Iliffe, 1997 is redescribed and a Lucayalana Bruce & Brix, gen. n. established for the species. In total 38 specimens were collected from Hatchet Bay Cave, Eleuthera. Specimens on which previous records of L. troglexuma (from Exuma Cays, Cat Island, and Eleuthera) were based have been re-examined when possible. The diagnostic identifying characters and purported apomorphies for Lucayalana gen. n. are: frontal lamina short, narrow, less than 7% width of labrum, not extending to anterior margin of head; pleonite 3 extending posteriorly to posterior of pleonite 5, laterally overlapping pleonites 4 and 5; ventrally broad, forming a strong ventrally directed blade; pereopods 1–3 merus inferior margin RS not molariform. Mitochondrial COI and 16S loci and the nuclear 18S locus data show that all specimens are the one species. Comparison to additional cirolanid COI sequence data (BOLD, GenBank) show that Lucayalana troglexuma is genetically distinct to all other cirolanid genera with available COI sequences. The single male and females have shared COI (with three females), 16S (eight females) and 18S sequences (two females).

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Research Article Wed, 8 Feb 2017 11:46:36 +0200